blossom end rot

[huntsman]

Originally Posted by TZ-OH6

Most peoples' city tap water is/should be around pH8. The water companies keep it that high so that it doesn't corrode pipes. It shouldn't be a problem for tomatoes. Most water sensitive plants need low TDS water (total dissolved solids), meaning purified-reverse osmosis water, rather than pH adjustment from adding more chemicals/acids. SMany times fertilizer solutions from crystaline fertilizers are too acidic and must have "pH Up" chemicals added to them, especially if they are being used for container plants in areas where the tap water is not hard enough.

This wouldn't cause BER, though, surely TZ?

Thanks for the input, dice.

[TZ-OH6]

No, if anything hard water would help prevent BER. Calcium carbonate is the usual culprit in hard water, and lime is often used by the water treatment plants to raise the pH to protect pipes. This combined with the normally adequate calcium levels in soil from bedrock and plant remains is one reason BER is usually attributed to fluctuating water availability,etc rather than soil calcium.

[huntsman]

So we're in the hands of the Tomato gods...

Well, we have just seen the sun (recognised it instantly!) for the first time in a very loooong time, so perhaps things will settle.